The NP Council set the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Specs this morning. Here are the Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), and Total Allowable Catch for Pollock, Pacific cod, and Sablefish for 2018 and 2017 for comparison. The TAC is the 2018 catch limits for Pollock and Pacific cod and ABC is the catch limit for Sablefish.

This week IPHC also met for their Interim Meeting in Seattle. The recommended catch limits and a comparison of last years catch limits are here. The Commission has moved from the ‘Blue Line’ to a Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) this a reference of fishing intensity and ratio of spawning biomass compared to fishing levels. The 2017 catch limits equaled an SPR of 40% and the recommended 2018 catch limits would be an SPR of 46%. TCEY is Total Constant Exploitable Yield or total amount of halibut removals over 26” in length and FCEY is Fishery Constant Exploitable Yield or the amount of directed fisheries halibut.
The 2018 TCEY is a reduction of 24% from the catch limits adopted in 2017 and projections indicate that the target fishing intensity of SPR46 is likely to result in similar but Read more...

Purse Seine Task Force meeting Tuesday, November 28, from 9:00am-5:00 pm in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center
Drift Gillnet Task Force meeting Wednesday, November 29, from 9:00-5:00 pm in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center
Southeast Alaska Regional Planning Team Thursday, November 30, from 9:00-5:00 pm in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Cener
North Pacific Fishery Management Council December 4-12, in Anchorage at the Hilton
Young Fishermen’s Summit December 6-8 in Anchorage at the Dena’Ina Center
King and Tanner Task Force meeting Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 1pm-4pm in Douglas at the ADF&G building and Petersburg at the Tide’s Inn Conference room
IPHC Harvest Regulatory Proposal deadline 5pm Saturday, December 23
Board of Fish Southeast Shellfish Read more...

As you know, The Alaska Marine Highway Reform Steering Committee, led by Southeast Conference, is pursuing legislative changes to transform the ferry system to a public corporation and pursue forward funding. Check out www.amhsreform.com to find project reports and information, provide feedback, and support reform efforts.

The 2018 Southeast Alaska Pink salmon harvest forecast is out. The harvest is predicted to be in the average range with a point estimate of 23 million fish (80% confidence interval: 3–44 million fish). This would be below the recent 10-year average harvest of 38 million pink salmon, but near the average even-year harvest since 1960 (25 million).
This year, unlike in recent years, ADF&G did not use NOAA’s forecast as a basis for their forecast. The juvenile pink salmon abundance indices from the 2017 trawl survey were the lowest in the 21 years NOAA has been conducting the survey, and about 25% of the previous lowest index. Forecasts using the previous forecast models resulted in negative to <10 million fish prediction for 2018. Instead, ADF&G chose a trend model and the pink Read more...

The office of Boards and Commissions are seeking nominees for the Commercial Fishery Entry Commission (CFEC). With the resignation of Commissioner Brown effective December 1, and Commissioner Twomley retiring in March, the need is clear. You need not be an attorney & you cannot be a current CFEC permit holder. Please submit applications here.

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